For most families, weddings are a time of immense changes, happy moments and ultimately, love. While the wedding day itself is what most couples look forward to, there are moments in between leading up to the big day that make the time spent with family and friends even more special.
One of the most important pre-wedding celebrations is the bridal shower, which is thrown in honour of the beautiful bride for all her friends and family to shower her with gifts and appreciation.
While men can attend, traditionally, the event is for women only and is a time for fun, laughter and themed games. If you are thinking of planning a bridal shower for a loved one, here are our pointers to make sure the event is one to remember.
Who hosts a bridal shower?
Typically, a bridal shower is hosted by close female family members or friends of the bride. If the bride chooses to have bridesmaids in her wedding, then it would generally be their duty to throw a shower before the wedding.
The bride’s mother and future mother-in-law can also host or help the bridesmaids in planning. Make sure that everyone is on board before planning anything- communication is key!
When and where do you have a bridal shower?
The ultimate time for a bridal shower would be a few months or weeks before the actual wedding. You want to plan it close enough to the wedding that the excitement is fresh but yet not so close that it adds pressure to other wedding festivities or plans that happen right before the actual wedding.
Ideally, you will want to choose a Saturday or Sunday during the day as bridal showers are meant to be daytime events. Remember to communicate with the bride and guests to ensure the date and time are mutually convenient.
As for location, where you host the bridal shower can depend on a number of factors. You want first to make sure that the location is local to the bride and your guests. You don’t want to have people travelling far to be able to attend.
In terms of the venue, bridal showers can be thrown at home, in the backyard, in a restaurant or even a formal banquet hall or party room depending on the formality and number of people attending.
The Guest List
Since bridal showers are usually women-only events, it makes sense that the guest list would be all the females who are also attending the wedding. If the event is not a surprise for the bride, then she can help out in deciding who will be attending.
For those that prefer an intimate bridal shower, they may just choose to invite close relatives and friends. When considering the guest list, also consider where you plan to hold the shower as that will help determine the number of people that would be appropriate.
Food and Drinks at a Bridal Shower
The food that is normally served at bridal showers is “brunch style” because of the time of day being morning to afternoon. Some choose to have a tea party or late breakfast as a bridal shower. In this case, fruit, pastries, veggies, mini sandwiches and finger food is appropriate. There may also be a dessert table with some sweets laid out for after.
Red and white wines or mimosas are popular drink choices for bridal showers. At Château Le Jardin, we offer bridal shower menus specifically for the occasion so that you and your guests are left satisfied and content.
Bridal Shower Décor
The décor of your bridal shower will depend on the theme that you choose. For example, if you choose a classic, romantic theme, you will want to use shades of pink and red in the décor as well as a lot of soft materials like lace and silk.
Flowers are a great accent for many bridal showers, as well as balloons and lighting. If you plan on doing a tea-party style shower, then you might layout muffins and cakes and have guests attend wearing stylish fascinators.
Bridal Shower Traditions and Games
While bridal showers have definitely evolved over the years, there are still some basic traditions that remain. For example, the bride will usually open up her gifts in front of the guests and laugh together at the wild lingerie and bedroom toys she receives.
Traditional games such as bridal shower bingo or toilet paper bride where guests make wedding dresses out of toilet paper are usually played. The event may end with a guest appearance from the bride’s fiancé if you’re going the traditional route; however, any bridal shower can be catered to the bride and her guests and what they would prefer to do.
Hosting a bridal shower at a local spa or beauty salon is another popular option. Whatever you decide to do, make sure the event is light and fun and that everyone has a chance to mingle and get to know each other.
If you are thinking of or in the process of planning a bridal shower for a friend or family member, keep these tips in mind and, most importantly, remember to relax and have fun. While pre-wedding events can be stressful, they are meant to bring people together for a good time.
For more information on throwing a bridal shower, call Château Le Jardin at 1-888-529-8573 or contact us here.
